FRACTURE MECHANICS IN ANSYS R16

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1
Fracture Mechanics in Ansys R16

Session-03 ie no
specific
XFEM Method Meshless crack tip
mesh

Fracture Mechanics

Ozen Engineering Inc.

1210 E. Arques Ave, Suite 207
Sunnyvale, CA 94085
info@ozeninc.com
XFEM Method
The extended finite element method (XFEM) is
a numerical technique for solution of
problems which involve singularities and high
gradient changes
In fracture mechanics context, it can be used
to model cracks by enriching the DOF in the
model
XFEM eliminates the necessity of remeshing
crack tip regions

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XFEM Method - Features
Offers a way to model the cracks without
explicitly meshing the crack surfaces
Allows for arbitrary crack growth within the
existing mesh. No morphing or remeshing is
needed
Initial cracks must be present in the model
and can be modeled as traction free or with
cohesive zone behavior

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XFEM Method - Details
Supported on Ansys Mechanical APDL
PLANE182 and SOLID185 elements (w/o
midside nodes) are supported
CINT command is used to calculated
maximum circumferential stress criterion as
crack propagation criterion
CGROW command is used to define the crack-
growth-set, fracture criterion and solution
control parameters

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XFEM Method - History
XFEM was developed in 1999, by Ted Belytschko
of North Western University USA
XFEM is a numerical method built on
the generalized finite element method
(GFEM) and the partition of unity method (PUM)
There are academic and commercial
implementations
Ansys R16 is the first release of XFEM, there were
user defined programming implementation with
Ansys

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XFEM Method - Overview
The techniques used in XFEM can be listed as:
Singularity-Based Approach
Accounts for crack tip singularities as well as the jumps in displacements across the crack
surfaces. Cracks may terminate inside a finite element
Phantom Node Method
Accounts only for jumps in displacements across the crack surfaces. Crack tip singularity
is not taken into account. Cracks terminate at the edge/face of a finite element.

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XFEM Method Crack-Growth Simulation Process
An XFEM crack-growth simulation is assumed
to be quasi-static (i.e. inertial effects are
negligible)
1. Create a Finite Element Model with an Initial
Crack
2. Define the Crack-Growth Criterion
3. Define the Decay of Stresses on the Newly
Created Crack Segments
4. Specify Cohesive Zone Behavior on Initial Crack
5. Perform the Crack-Growth Criterion Evaluation
6. Perform the Crack-Growth Calculation

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 XFEM Step-01: FE model with initial crack
Define an enrichment region in the model with possible crack
propagation
Multiple initial cracks can be defined in the region
Enrichment region should be limited, as addition of extra internal
nodes in the model requires extra computational time

XFENRICH, EncrihmentID, CompName, MAT_ID

Used to define
Command to define Named assigned to Component name
cohesive zone
enrichment region identify enrichment which includes the
behavior for crack
region elements for
faces
enrichment region

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XFEM Step-01: FE model with initial crack
Crack geometry in an element is defined by specifying two signed distance
functions at the nodes of the element
The two signed distance functions at the nodes represent the position of
the nodes from the crack surface and from the crack front
PHI cannot be zero!
The initial crack cannot cut the element at the nodes of the element
XFDATA, LSM, ELEMNUM, NODENUM, PHI

Element number
Signed normal
distance of the
node from crack
Command to define Node number
initial crack

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XFEM Step-02: Define crack-growth criterion
Crack-growth criterion must be specified for newly cracked segments
The crack segments are such that they fully cut the elements ahead of the
crack
The crack propagates at the rate of only one element at a time

TB, CGCR,,,STTMAX (or PSMAX)

STTMAX (maximum circumferential stress
criterion)
PSMAX (circumferential stress criterion based
on r=0
Ideally both criteria gives same or very similar
results

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XFEM Step-3&4: Define condition for new crack faces
When cohesive segments are initiated, the cohesive
stresses in the crack segments gradually decrease to zero as
the deformation progresses
This behavior can be defined for initial cracks and existing
cracks via TB command
Contact between crack faces are resolved using frictionless
contact. This is default behavior and cannot be changed

TB, CGCR,,,,RLIN TB, CZM,,,,BILI

For Newly Created Crack Segments; For Initial Crack Segments;

Rigid Linear Law is available Bilinear Cohesive Law is available

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XFEM Step-05: Crack-Growth criterion evaluation
1. Define the elements that form the
crack front as a crack front element
set
CINT, CXFE, CompName
2. Define the distance ahead of the
crack tip at which stress is evaluated
CINT, RADIUS, VALUE
3. Define the number of intervals,
min and max for sweep angle
CINT, RSWEEP, NUM_INTERVALS, MIN_ANGLE, MAX_ANGLE

4. Calculate circumferential stress

CINT, TYPE, STTMAX (or PSMAX)

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XFEM Step-06: Crack-Growth calculation
1. Initiate the crack-growth set
CGROW, NEW, SET_NUM
2. Specify the crack calculation ID:
CGROW, CID, ID_NUM
3. Specify XFEM crack-growth method
CGROW, METHOD, XFEM
4. Specify the fracture criterion
CGROW, FCOPTION, MTAB, MAT_ID

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Verification Problem from Ansys Help
VM287
Initial Crack Growth Angle in a Pure Shear
Problem with the XFEM Method

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Verification Problem from Ansys Help
VM287
Initial Crack Growth Angle in a Pure Shear
Problem with the XFEM Method

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Example Problem from Ansys Help
help/ans_frac/Hlp_G_FRACXFEM.html#d0e5542
Crack Growth in a Three-Point Bending
Specimen

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Example Problem from Ansys Help
help/ans_frac/Hlp_G_FRACXFEM.html#d0e5542
Crack Growth in a Three-Point Bending
Specimen

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Example Problem from Ansys Help
/device,vector,1
/pnum,node,1
/pnum,elem,1
/number

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XFEM Method Limitations & Assumptions
Only linear elastic materials can be used in conjunction
with the available fracture criteria
Multiple initial crack can be defined in the region
The XFEM analysis is assumed to be quasi-static, only!
Crack tip singularity effects are not incorporated into the
analysis (ie. Phantom Node Method is the only supported
method)
In 3D XFEM, hexahedral SOLID185 elements are required
where crack is initiated and expected to propagate
Time stepping needs to be small enough to capture crack
propagation
Element birth/death is not supported
Distributed Ansys is not supported

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Following Week Schedule
April 9th: 10AM-10:45AM PT Fracture
Mechanics with Cohesive Zone and
Delamination
April 16th: 10AM-10:45AM PT Fatigue Crack
Propagation
www.ozeninc.com

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 END
Thanks for your attention !!!
Questions ?

CONTACT:
OZEN ENGINEERING, INC.
1210 E. ARQUES AVE. SUITE: 207
SUNNYVALE, CA 94085
(408) 732-4665
info@ozeninc.com
www.ozeninc.com